Birthdays...

Birthdays are inevitable.  Mine's coming up, so I'm thinking about it.  It's a good thing that it's not a big one!  I'm angling for a couple of rather unusual gifts for someone my age... another Webkinz to ensure that my account isn't deactivated around my birthday, and Lego Indiana Jones for my xbox360.  I'll let you know if my husband and kids take the bait.

Speaking of birthdays, I did a party last night for 10 wonderful girls.  Yes -  I do parties!  Tell your friends!!!  Anyhow, here's what we made together.

The birthday girl's mom liked the idea of the girls making a Father's Day card.  This one is pretty easy, and gives them a bit of stamping to try.  I should have taken pictures of their cards because not one of them looked like mine!  That creative bunch was putting things all over the place, in a manner that suited them the best.  None were the same, and each girl was proud of what she made.

We also made shadowboxes.  Mom of the birthday girl took pictures of each party guest with the guest of honour, and then high-tailed it out to Wal-Mart to have them developed while we were stamping away.  When the girls were finished their shadowboxes (again, none of them looked exactly like mine!) each one had a special memory to take home at the end of the party.  They LOVED them!

I'm off to flop in front of the TV.  It was an incredibly busy week, and I'm grateful for a bit of down time.  I think that I'll probably scrapbook or make some thank you cards tomorrow, and with any luck I may actually get to the sewing of my family room window coverings this week!  That may be TOO ambitious though...  

Stay tuned, and happy stamping!

Thanks for a great time!!!

A big thank you to all of the people that attended Saturday's Stamp-A-Stack and Scrapbooking crop.  It was hard giving up a Saturday in May (especially when it was gorgeous outside!) but I really hope that everyone had a great time and completed some awesome projects!

For those of you that weren't able to come, here's a sample of what the ladies finished on Saturday.

Corrie designed this gorgeous pink & black card.  It was a real hit at the stack.

This fruity card (and it's red cherried sister) were also very popular.  The orange was stamped using the Rock & Roll technique.  

Last, but least, are the Thank You boxes that everyone had a chance to complete.  We wanted to give everyone a quick project to complete as a thank you for giving up a Saturday during the month of May.

I'm off to take my kids to karate and move some mulch.  Happy stamping!

Yikes!

Well, it's been a busy few days, and there are a few more to come!

Our Stamp-A-Stack / Scrapbooking crop is being held on Saturday, and there's a flurry of activity amongst the demonstrators who are preparing for it.  In addition, stamp club is next week, and I'm sitting down with a group of 10 year olds for a birthday party next Friday night.  How's that for busy?!?

I did manage to finish off another layout in my crazy A-Z scrapbooking album.  This time it's the letter "B".  "B" as in Brrrrr.... it's cold out outside.  And it really is!  I'm a bit dismayed at how cold it is considering it's May 21st.

Enjoy!

Yikes! I'm a bit behind...

What's today?  May 12th?  Wow.  I'm a tad late sending out my monthly newsletter to those on my mailing list.  My apologies...  I was a tad busy getting ready for my crazy garage sale on the weekend, and I kinda forgot about it.

But... on the bright side, I have good stuff to tell!

I've added three events to my calendar.  I have another Mom & Me stamping class scheduled for Saturday, June 14th.  Your munchkins can come to my place and make something cool for dad!  Just make sure you sign them up ASAP so that I know how many rugrats will be out to destroy my stamp room (aka dining room when there's no stamping stuff out).  Cost for this one is $10, but they'll have 2 projects to take home - one of which will definitely be for dad.

I have also scheduled a Loonies for Littles Journal night for Friday, June 27th.  If you like the kit, but are daunted by the prospect of putting the little journal together, this is the night for you!  If you get the kit, I'll chop it all up for you.  You just need to stamp and glue stuff in!  For those of you that already have the kit but want to come to create your journal, you can drop your kit off and I'll still chop the paper for you!  I'll also have some extra paper and embellishments for your journal - just to make it look extra awesome.  Let me know if either work for you and we'll go from there.  Cost for the first option is $45, and cost for the second option is $5.  

Last, but not least, I'm going to have an All in the Family shadowbox class on Tuesday, July 15th.  Mark that one on your calendar!

Stay tuned for tomorrow's post... it's the mega-awesome June promotion that they told us about today.  Big sneak preview of something from the new Fall/Winter catalogue...

My family (well, not really but they're cute!)

I recently received my All in the Family Stamp set.  I haven't used it much, but only because I haven't sat down to play with it.  Soon... I promise.  It's too cute not to use! 

Here's a photo of one project that I saw at Spring Fling.  I love it!  I had been contemplating some type of a shadowbox project using the set, and then I saw this.  Now I have to do something!  I can smell a summer class coming on...

I would love to give credit to the stamper, but unfortunately I don't know who created this wonderful shadowbox.  They did an amazing job!

Enjoy!

How did it come to this??

As some of you know, I used to detest scrapbooking.  I'm no longer sure why, as I've always loved paper crafts.  Heck, I've always loved paper!  I can go into a stationary store (do they still exist?) and mill about for hours on end.  There used to be one in downtown Oakville that had the best stuff.  Ah, memories...

Back to scrapbooking.  I've been making my own cards for years, but my first foray into scrapping was in the fall of 2001.  I yanked apart our family photo albums and created two albums - one for me, and one for my mom.  I didn't enjoy the process.  I'm sure that part of the reason is that while I was working at the dining room table the piles of boxes grew around me.  I finished just before Christmas, and we moved on January 7, 2002.

My second attempt at scrappin' was my wedding album.  It is better than the first one (which I am now systematically taking apart as I "rescrap" the pictures), and it gets better the farther into the album you go.  But... I still didn't really enjoy it.  

My friend Marci has been listening for almost 3 years that it's her fault that I started really scrapping (and enjoying it!).  She gave me an 8x8 album kit when Michelle was born, and told me that I had to do her baby album as a scrapbook.  I did, and the rest is history.  I'm now obsessed, and really prefer it to card-making (although it seems like I don't have enough time for either!).

My 2007 scrapbook really is going to take some time, with a whole lot of creativity thrown in.  I've sort of planned it out: the pictures are sorted and categorized, but they haven't all been matched with letters.  I have a feeling that I may live to regret this A-Z book that I'm doing, but I'm committed now and can't stop.  The other wrench that I've thrown in is that the entire book will be made using Stampin' Up! products.  I may cave at some point and use some of my QuicKutz dies, but for the moment I'll stick with my paper, stamps, and embellishments.  I've now finished three layouts for the 2007 book.  I've already posted "G", and here come "F" and "W".

Stay tuned for more pages in the weeks to come...  You may even see yourself in the pictures!

May Promotions!

Yes, I know.  May started 3 days ago, and I haven't sent my monthly newsletter, or published any of the monthly promos.  It's been a busy weekend.  I should have done both on Friday night, but decided to scrap instead.  The letter "F" this time!  Sorry... no pictures yet.  It's not done.  I'll work on the pages after I finish this, provided I haven't gone to sleep.  We went to Canada's Wonderland today, to process our Season's Passes, and have some fun.  The place was a zoo!!!  We did have a great deal of fun though.  I'll post pics later - after I actually take them off of my camera!

Anyhow, on to the promos.

On Board with Chipboard

For the month of May, when you spend $40 on any Stampin' Up! products, you'll get 25% off all On Board chipboard products from pages 178-179 of the current catalogue.  

Expand Your Toolbox Recruiting Promotion

For the entire month of May, join Stampin' Up! as a demonstrator and get 20% off the Starter Kit, PLUS a free tin of qualifying Hodgepodge Hardware from the Spring-Summer Collection 2008.  The value of the Hardware is $35.95, and the discount on the kit is $52.00!  You can choose either the Aged Copper, the Antique Brass, or the Pewter.  The Styled Silver from the Occasions Mini is not part of this promotion.

*  One interesting note... the bottom of the official SU! flyer for this promotion, in very small and faint print, states the following:  "Hodgepodge Hardware in Aged Copper, Antique Brass, and Pewter finishes will retire with the Spring-Summer Collection 2008.  Hmmm... a sneak peek into the retired list!

If you have thought about becoming a demonstrator, and having the wonderful opportunity to teach the art of cardmaking or scrapbooking to others, this is a great time to do so!  If you need more information please call or e-mail me, or click here to go to my Stampin' Up! site where you can sign up on the spot to become a demonstrator!  Make sure you have my password "mingostamp" to access the site.

Cutting Combo Pack Special Offer

During the month of May, buy a Cutting Mat and get a Hobby Blade for FREE!!

As always, let me know if you need additional information on these awesome promotions, or would like to place an order.  

One of these days I'll figure out how to add PDFs to this blog o' mine.  For those of you that already know, I'll bother you first!

Happy stamping!

Happiness Pop-Up Card Tutorial

First off... this is my first attempt at a tutorial.  If you are trying to make this card, and become completely confused, e-mail me.  The photo of the card can be found here.

Base of card:  4 1/4" x 11" (one sheet of 8 1/2" x 11" cardstock, cut lengthwise down the middle of the paper) - I used Almost Amethyst for this

Pop-up:  Basic Black (5 1/4" x 3"); Certainly Celery (5" x 2 3/4"); Whisper White (4 3/4" x 2 1/2")

Score your paper at the following measurements: 

1", 2 3/4", 3 3/4", 5 1/2", 7 1/4", 8 1/4" and 10"

Cut a slit on the 5 1/2" line.  You want to leave about a half inch of uncut cardstock at each end, and make the cut long enough that you can slide the pop-up section through.

Stamp your image on the base (I've used Versamark ink) and the pop-up section (I used Polka Dots & Petals for the flowers, and a marker with ruler for the stems; the sentiment comes from Warm Words).  Make sure that it is at least 1 1/2" from the bottom of the cardstock as 1" of it will be completely covered by paper.

Fold the base on all of the scored lines.  Push the pop-up through the top of the base.

Apply adhesive to one of the 1" strips at the end of the base.  Attach your pop-up as shown.  Apply adhesive to the other 1" strip, then attach to the other side of the pop-up.  Don't be stingy with your adhesive!!!  SNAIL works well for this. If you use a gluestick you will need to use a couple of clothes pegs to hold the card together while it dries. 

Once it has been put together, you can push the top of the base down, and the card will stand up on its own.  To send it, place 2-3 fingers in the base, while pushing the top of the pop-up with your index fingers.  This will push the pop-up down, flattening the card.  It will now fit in a regular card envelope, and is ready for giving!

Please let me know if you have any questions about this.  I appreciate any and all feedback!

Grow grass, grow!

The weather outside is gloomy today, but I'm still happy because my fertilizer went on yesterday, and I've got some grass seed down as well.  Inside my house looks fairly decent (for a change!) except for Chris' room, which is reluctantly cleaning right now.  Apparently the threat of "clean your room or you won't go somewhere special with grandma tomorrow" is working.  I think.  I haven't actually been up there to see what he's doing!

I have done zero paper crafting this week.  It was so crazy last week getting things ready for my clubs, workshops and spring fling that I needed a break.  I'll get back at it tonight when I sit down to finalize one of the stamp-a-stack cards, and do some scrapbooking sans friends.  The menfolk of the neighbourhood decided to go to see a movie tonight.  The nerve of them!  Going to see a movie on our scrapbooking night!  Grrr...

In lieu of something that I've made, I have a photo of another 3-D swap item that I received last weekend.  I

t's cute and dead easy.  The bag was created by Corinne Somerville (check out her blog here) and is simply a regular flat bottom paper bag that has been cut down to a height of 5".  She's then added some decorated cardstock to the front and back, and the ribbon to the top.  Voila!  

I'll be back in a bit with the instructions for the pop-up card from my last entry.  I need to put something together, but it will be up by the end of the day.

Enjoy!